*** MICHAEL PENN, “MP4 (Days Since a Lost Time Accident),” Epic/57 Records

A classic pop stylist inspired by the lush sonics and wry wit of the Beatles, singer-songwriter Penn layers his fourth solo album with shimmering melodies, sonic twists and turns, and airy, Beach Boys-esque vocals by such guests as wife Aimee Mann and brother Christopher Penn. Like such modern giants of the genre as Elvis Costello and R.E.M., the L.A.-based artist uses that sweet, sweet music to soften the sting of his cleverly bilious takes on relationships.

Self-producing for the first time, Penn deftly incorporates a kitchen-sink array of vintage psychedelic-pop elements, yet often makes his 10-song collection sound thoroughly modern. The opening blend of brush-like percussion, plunking acoustic guitar and needy vocal drone on “Don’t Let Me Go,” for example, evokes the subterranean trip-hop blues of Tricky.

It’s the kind of exacting work you’d expect from an experienced film composer (including “Boogie Nights”) and budding producer (he co-helmed the forthcoming Wallflowers album). Yet Penn also compels listeners with the cynical romance of such vignettes as “Perfect Candidate,” a cutting portrait of a woman seeking a soul mate for the molding, and “Beautiful,” which dissects a hipster’s fear of being discovered as a fraud.

Penn’s penchant for poetry doesn’t always yield memorable couplets, but it does create unique portraits of various states of the heart. Due in stores Tuesday.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.

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Hear the Music * Excerpts from Young Bleed’s “My Own” and other releases are available on the World Wide Web. Point your browser to: http://161.35.110.226/soundclips